Lighter shade of pale ale

Pub no. 289 - The Lighterman, 13th August 2016

Camden's got a new pub, and it's not just a pub. It's also a bar - and a dining room. It tells you on the way in. Apparently the Lighterman is "a slickly-designed, minimalist Modern British gastropub with big windows & a canal-side alfresco bar." so make of that what you will.

£2.50 for a half of some craft pale ale or something sounds about right. The busy bar staff seem to think they're being under utilised if they're not artfully and coolly mixing a cocktail.

Nice view from the big windows. And some nice seating areas outside if you like that kind of thing.

Nice to have a new pub, with so many closing but if is the future of how pubs will be I'm not going to like it - but lots of people will I'm sure.

Simple simmon

Pub 288. Simmons.

This opened a little while ago but up until recently they didn't have any draft beer, so it couldn't possibly count as any type of pub / bar type place. But now it does. I saw another one the other day, but not in our borough so the march of Simmons carries on.

I've not been in yet, but this is what it looks like so I'm in no rush. But I will, as this is the rod I've made for my back.

So months later... now I've been in. And had the place to my self.

£2.80 for a half of ABInbev's London Pale Ale, and a nice chat with the very nice barmaid. And a mirror ball in the shape of a skull. Her Majesty and Lynch's Tina. I'm glad it was empty.

Camden rocked

Pub no. 287 - The Caernarvon Castle.

Can't believe I forgot to mention this one. A regular on the Camden Town music scene back in the day too.

I think I remember it being the Fusilier and Firkin when I first came to Camden Town but I'm not 100%. Sadly I don't remember it looking like this!

This pic from the excellent "Camden - A Pictorial History"

(Apparently the 'e' was added to the name to make it sound more Welsh. They should have just kept it as the Pickford's Arms).

The other thing that I remember is that the air-con above the stage was often louder than the band!

These photos give a good idea of what it was like before it came the Camden Rock Cafe, and then some naff clothes shop. And then as we all know it burnt down. Currently it's a big hole as they redevelop the market space there.

A good old grubby pub, but one that even if had not been flogged off as a clothes shop and burnt down certainly wouldn't be same now.

What misery!

Pub 286. XO Bar.

Some 150 years ago this pub / bar / place / eatery / space / whatever it calls itself now was known as the Miserable Man. The perfect pub for  a chap like me!

http://www.belsizevillage.co.uk/village.htm

 Fifteen years ago it was still a decent boozer by all accounts, and I had walked by many times them being my Belsize Park residency days but sadly never went in.

Now after a couple of refits The Belsize Tavern became The Belsize, each one becoming more and more gastro and gliztly / nasty and grisly and dull. Now it's the XO Bar and offers "Pan-Asian menu including dim sum and sushi in a modern space with dark wood and scarlet details" That's progress for you.

 
I must confess I haven't actually been in yet... but I will. I'm in no hurry mind you!

Well I've been in now, and at least it was warm and quiet. And 3 quid a half of Japanese lager. Miserable man indeed!

Foundless

Pub no. 286. The Foundry Bar.

Camden's newest pub. But is this supposed to be a pub? It sure looks like one but the web-site calls itself a "hang-out". Like a scruffy shirt??

Anyways, it's certainly trying to look like a pub so it will count, unlike that place round the corner and up the ramp with a hot-tub. Mind you, not all of it looks like a pub.

The Camden something or other lager was £2.50, it was all very comfy and quite cosy on a warm day. A few board games lying about, amongst them the new edition of Operation which was rubbish.

I'm sure the tourists will love it though.

Hotel motel

Pub 284, 1 Duke's Road. 22nd November 2014.

Yes, it's a hotel bar but it's got a separate entrance and its own name so in my book that makes just passable as a 'pub'. Only just, but it's my game and my rules. And if the Night & Day, Callaghan's and Bar Tavistock pass muster so must this. And thinking about it it's not really much different to pubs and bars - in theory! It also has draught beer on, which is why I've not felt obliged to go into Simmon's in Camden Town as it looks like it's bottles only. Correct me if I'm wrong. But I will have to go to the Fitzrovia branch - as I never had the chance when it was Potion. Not that I'm very excited about mind, but I digress...

So back to 1 Duke's Road. It's worth noting that the entrance that bears the name "1 Duke's Road" is actually on the Euston Road.
People do seem to be using it just for a drink - maybe their guests or not, I don't know. It's comfy enough inside. The keg beer was fine. I don't remember what it was or how much it was though. And the large poster of the nearby Euston War Memorial is a nice touch.

Taving a laugh

Pub 283. Bar Tavistock, 23rd October 2014.

Hotel bars are funny one, but I reckon if they are sold as being separate from the main hotel they have to count. Which means there's another one possibly too, which looks awful.

 

So I went in for a decent pint of decent ale (Spitfire I think) for a decent-ish price. And that's about it.

It's a bit art-decoey. One for completists only, or Russell Square pub crawlers.

Show must Belgo on

Pub 282. Belgo, 22nd October 2014.

Just when I'd thought I'd done them all, the Belgium elephant in the room snorted loudly. Belgo must be treated as a pub, at least the bar area at the front. And aptly an elephant adorned one of the walls, a Belgian nod perhaps to Camden Town's brewing past?

I had an engagement in the Roundhouse over the road, so it did make sense, and the Belgians are known for their beer I suppose. Cold and fizzy and funny tasting though it may be. So I had half a pils.

Very cosy in here. Tiny bar - perhaps the smallest bar in the borough.

A chap drinking Kwak got served with mini-yards in wooden frames. Crazy.

All done but not beaten.

Pub 281. The Beaten Docket, 9th July 2014.

The Beaten Docket is the now the only pub in Camden I've not been in (that was possible to go into at the time of visiting... stupid All Bar One!) and all that hard work as given a right thirst.And where better to go out with a celebratory bang than in a Cricklewood Wetherspoons.

But at least that means that ones thirst can be quenched very cheaply. The Pure Gold was very nice too.

But there again, it being a Wetherspoons it was of course just like every other Wetherspoons, complete with tourists' half-eaten food. And a 2 mile walk to the loos.

This one had BBC beer mats. Don't think I've any of them before. The things you discover having a drink in every pub in Camden!

My dear Wa☘son

Pub 280. Elementree, 9th July 2014.

This is a funny place. I asked for half a lager and the lady behind bar grunted at me "Two." I looked at her. "Two." she repeated. Two pounds please Sir! is what I assume she meant.

Anyways I settled down on a comfy seat, and felt I was in a place could be anywhere in the world, watching You've Been Framed, and resisting the temptation to pull back one of the glass balls of the lamp shade/ceiling decoration and let it go creating a 2D Newton's cradle effect.

And I've not done a thing.

Pub 279. Done Our Bit, 9th July 2014.

I know, I shouldn't include this as it's a social club rather than a pub. But if you're lucky like me a nice friendly chap in there might sign you in as a guest. You might even get put up for membership!

So, I popped in on the off-chance and was quite prepared to be told "Sorry - members only" but the couple of chaps in there were very friendly indeed, and I ended up staying for a good few light ales.
And much fine chit-chat about football, the state of clubs and Jeff Goldblum (we were watching Pointless),

It's a club for ex-servicemen - hence "Done Our Bit", and rightly so. But I don't think you need to be an ex-serviceman now.And members get to use that all too-rare treat once common when cubs were common - one of the full size snooker tables. More than all the (other) pubs in Camden put together.

If I lived a bit closer I'd definitely be asking for a membership form, and hoping to be seconded. Instead, I just hope someone will sign me again next time I'm passing. If it's good enough for Jimmy Edwards it's good enough for me!

I'm just grateful that I never had to do my bit. Lest we forget. Cheers boys.

No pictures!

Pub 278. The Gallery, 9th July 2014.

A gallery! Great - might get to see some nice pictures or art or something. But nope. The only art here is very loud music. I guess the gallery is the balcony thing inside, commanding fine views of whatever is underneath, as an estate agent might say.

The barman was nice, the beer fizzy and expensive. My first choice of seat was next to an ear-level loudspeaker. My second choice in a squishy leather couch by many passing face-level babcksides, and next to some creaky wooden steps that everyone insisted of stamping down with great gusto.

I tried not to rush my drink but the little spot lights behind the ceiling fans, combined with "the tunes" were giving my a right old headache. To paraphrase Tony Hart's gallery announcement "I'm sorry but I can't promise to return..."